Pant scores quick fifty as India reaches 419 for six in second Test

In Colombo’s Sinhalese Sports Club, India posted a commanding 419/6 at the lunch interval of the second Test against Sri Lanka.

Pant, who entered after Shubman Gill’s injury, partnered with Dhruv Jurel to add 112 runs for the seventh wicket. Pant reached his fifty in 81 balls and was poised at 63 off 88 balls when play was halted, his knock featuring six fours and two sixes. Jurel supported with 59 runs from 107 balls, striking five fours.

Sri Lankan bowlers could not make inroads; Asitha Fernando stood out with four wickets, the highest haul for his side.

The first innings summary saw India compile 300 for five. Devdutt Padikkal’s unbeaten 117, his second successive overseas Test century, anchored the innings. Shubman Gill contributed a gritty fifty, while Yashasvi Jaiswal and Ravindra Jadeja added 45 and 43 respectively.